HR Payroll Apprentice

London Borough of Hillingdon; Greater London; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 20,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Working Hours

36 Hour Week

Holiday Entitlement

Cycle to Work

Job summary

The London Borough of Hillingdon is seeking a motivated HR Payroll Apprentice to gain workplace experience whilst developing a recognised professional qualification in a busy, supportive environment.

You will provide HR payroll guidance, handle enquiries, assist with payroll administration, and support casework and records management within the HR team. This 18‑month level 3 apprenticeship offers development and progression opportunities.

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English at grade C/4 or above.
• Willingness to work towards a relevant professional qualification.
• Interest in a career in HR and Payroll.
• Good IT skills with Word, Excel, Outlook.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Positive, proactive attitude and excellent customer service.
• Ability to work well in a team and learn.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional advice on HR Payroll policies and procedures.
• Respond to telephone, email, and face-to-face enquiries.
• Support payroll administration activities and deadlines.
• Process and maintain employee records.
• Progress cases through the HR case management system.
• Assist the team with administrative tasks.
• Identify opportunities to improve service delivery.

Skills

Strong communication

Teamwork

Customer service orientation

Positive attitude

Willingness to learn

Education

GCSE Maths and English (C/4 or above)

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

The London Borough of Hillingdon is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our HR Payroll and Reward Team as a HR Payroll Apprentice. This is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable workplace experience whilst developing a recognised professional qualification in a busy, supportive, and customer‑focused environment.

What You'll Be Doing

• Providing professional and friendly advice on HR Payroll policies and procedures.
• Responding to telephone, email, and face‑to‑face enquiries.
• Supporting payroll administration activities and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Processing and maintaining employee records and documentation.
• Managing and progressing cases through the HR case management system.
• Supporting the team with a range of administrative activities.
• Identifying opportunities to improve ways of working and enhance customer service.

About You

• GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English at Grade C/4 or above.
• A willingness to work towards a relevant professional qualification.
• A genuine interest in developing a career in HR and Payroll.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A positive and proactive attitude.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• A commitment to learning and personal development.

Please note that this is a level 3 apprenticeship for up to 18 months.

About us

We value our employees and are committed to ensuring that they enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career with us. We understand that a happy and motivated workforce is essential for the success of our organisation. That is why we offer a wide range of employee benefits to enhance your work‑life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development.

Benefits

• Flexible Working Hours – We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life.
• 36 Hour Week – Enjoy a standard 36-hour workweek for all full time staff.
• Generous Holiday Entitlement – increasing with length of service (for non-casual roles).
• Hillingdon Sports & Leisure – Stay active and healthy with discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – option to join schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules).
• Cycle to Work – Eco‑friendly commuting with our cycle purchase scheme. We also provide bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.
• Local Government Pension Scheme – access to Local Government Pension Scheme and membership to the Credit Union.
• Perkbox Benefits – Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Perkbox Benefits.
• Mental Health Support and Counselling Services – Our mental health first aiders are trained to identify, understand, and help employees experiencing mental health issues. Access free 24‑hour confidential advice and counselling as well as a legal advice service for you and your immediate family.
• Travel Support – Make your daily commute easier with our season ticket loans and free car parking.
• Trade Union Membership – The Council recognises UNISON, Unite, AEP and GMB and supports employees’ freedom of choice in relation to trade union membership.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. This commitment means that all employees, job applicants and others who work for us will be treated fairly.

The aim is for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and Hillingdon residents so we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias, and we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to applicants with disabilities.

Join us in building a workplace where everyone feels respected, able to give their best and be themselves at work, whilst contributing meaningfully to our organisation's success.

Recruitment Information

Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under this scheme. We believe in the option to choose, so candidates declaring a disability have the choice to opt in for consideration under this scheme, on a ‘per application’ basis.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

In addition to verifying Right to Work in the UK and a new starter health questionnaire, the post is subject to the following pre‑employment screening:

• Qualifications Check
• 2 years of Referencing

Please note:

Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

It may be necessary due to a high volume of applications to close this role early. We therefore recommend you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.